Are the kids in your ministry — and their families — talking about what you are currently teaching in your classrooms or through your children’s church? Getting them talking can be a powerful addition to your children’s ministry!
Family meals these days are often “hijacked” by cell phones, crazy schedules, or eating in front of the TV. Families struggle to carve out devotional time together before bedtime or first thing each morning. But it’s important!
Moses sums up God’s instructions to the Israelites by urging them to: “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, MSG). This is serious business!
We can’t assume that our children will go home from our time with them at church and share what they’re learning with their parents and siblings. Recently, as I was considering this dilemma, I stumbled upon one idea that might help — Family Table Talkers by Kidology. It is a reproducible tool designed to help families disconnect from tech and connect with each other and God’s Word around their table at home.
Initially, I thought, Hey, these things look like a flat piece of paper! And they are. But once folded into a standing triangle and placed where it will be seen and used — ideally where families gather to eat — it can spark thoughtful conversation and add some family fun to mealtimes.
Each Family Table Talker includes:
- Monthly Motto — a theme and motto designed to focus on the topic
- Live Chat — discussion starters that relate to the monthly theme
- Think About It — a short devotional on the theme
- Victory Verse — a memory verse for every member of the family to memorize. (Kids love quizzing their parents and helping them learn the verse, too!)
- Diggin’ Deeper — an exploration of the topic in more depth with input from God’s Word
- Double Dare Ya! — a family challenge to do something bold and crazy to make a difference in the world
- Make It Count — a bonus idea to help take the learning a little further toward impacting real life and fostering real change
- Goofy Game — family fun, using items that are easy to find around the house
The folks at Kidology have already developed Table Talkers that address many topics including: loving God, prayer, kindness, respect, character, wonder, peace, renewal, helpfulness, forgiveness, stewardship, friendship, worship, and truth. (I counted about 50 ready to use on their website.) To purchase Table Talkers to use at your church, go to kidology.org/tabletalkers.
But there’s no need to wait for the folks at Kidology (or any other children’s ministry resource supplier) to develop exactly what you would like to use. With some time and creativity, your team could develop a similar tool to help the families at your church begin to talk about what you’re teaching in children’s ministry.
As you fine-tune your teaching plans, consider adding a tool that will get your families talking! That’s always a positive thing!
